World Neurosurg
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Controlled Clinical Trial
The analysis of the petrosal vein to prevent venous complications during the anterior transpetrosal approach in the resection of petroclival meningioma.
The anterior transpetrosal approach (ATPA) has been used in the resection of petroclival meningioma (PCM) for more than 20 years. Although PCM sometimes involves the petrosal vein and its preservation has been an important issue, the precise risk of petrosal vein sacrifice and subsequent venous complications associated with the use of the ATPA in patients with PCM has not yet been elucidated. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that the ATPA could be performed safely on patients with PCM from the viewpoint of venous preservation. Preoperative CT-DSV is important for assessing the petrosal vein and its tributaries to facilitate a safer operation.
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The efficacy of epidural spinal cord stimulation on chronic neuropathic pain due to failed back surgery syndrome or nerve root lesions is well reported. There is even literature reporting the effects of spinal cord stimulation in controlling peripheral vascular lesions as in peripheral arteriopathies or diabetic neuropathies and in complex regional pain syndrome type II. This is probably due to an effect of epidural spinal cord stimulation, mainly on the parasympathetic nervous system. ⋯ This is the first case report of severe chronic pain syndrome due to a widespread lymphangioma successfully treated by means of epidural spinal cord stimulation.
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Case Reports
The Long-term Effect of Flow Diversion on Large and Giant Aneurysms: An MRI-DSA-Clinical Correlation Study.
The long-term effect of flow diversion (FD) on aneurysms has not been well studied. ⋯ Most aneurysms treated with Pipeline decreased in size, correlating with clinical improvement. Some aneurysms remained unchanged on MRI until a later time point despite early DSA occlusion. It may be reasonable to eliminate early postprocedural imaging and start follow-up only as late as 1 year after FD treatment in clinically stable, asymptomatic patients.
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With vertebral compression fractures (VCF), height loss has been associated with kyphotic deformity and intractable pain, 2 indications for potential surgical intervention. Consequently, assessment of factors associated with continual height loss can provide insights regarding management. Computed tomography (CT) Hounsfield units (HU), a measure of radiodensity, have been implicated for the assessment of bone quality. No studies have assessed the relationship between CT HU and traumatic VCF. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate this relationship. ⋯ Age, BMI, and CT HU values are independent predictors of worsening VCF. These factors can help determine appropriate clinical follow-up and need for surgical intervention.
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Meningioma is a hypervascular tumor of the central nervous system. Angiographic disappearance of tumor blush after preoperative feeder embolization allows qualitative, but not quantitative, assessment of flow reduction. Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL), which has evolved from magnetic resonance imaging techniques, allows noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) using water protons in the arterial blood flow. ⋯ PCASL could yield quantitative assessment of blood flow in meningioma including flow reduction rate in cases of feeder embolization.